headlight issues. Need some advice.

[Thorax68]

I have a 1997 plymouth voyager mini-van, about 2 month ago my headlight wont go on, but my high beams work. I have to keep car lights on high beam all the time. can anyone give me a idea what's causing this.

Thanks.

[moparman58]

Could be your headlight switch has gone bad. Had to replace mine ('97 T&C) last summer. The old one was worn and you had to play with it to get it in just the right place to get the headlights to come on at all.

[RIP]

As moparman58 says, it could be the switch. Before you go there there's a few easy things to check. Go to your Power Distribution Center (a fuse/relay panel) under the hood on the right edge of the engine compartment outboard of the battery. The schematic I'm looking at may not match your van so I won't give you the fuse numbers. Just check all the headlight fuses to make sure none are blown. If the fuses are good, find two relays labeled low beam and high beam relay on the same panel. The labels are on the panel cover. They should be identical relays so just pull them out and re-insert them in the opposite positions. Now, with the relays swapped, if your problem now changes to no highbeams, that relay is bad. Short of removing the relays, you could tap on the low beam relay and see if the low beams come on. Beyond that, except for two bad headlamps (not likely), it gets a little tricky. Try these checks for now and see what you find.

[Thorax68]

I just checked the fuses and the relays they are good. How do I check to see if it's the switch?

[RIP]

The switch you're dealing with is called the multi-function switch. Disconnect the negative battery lead to keep the airbags from accidently going off. Remove the lower steering column cover. Disconnect the switch connector. Using a multimeter or test light, check for continuity at pins 9 and 10 at the same time clicking your switch between low and high beams. When you select low beam you should have continuity (0 resistance or the test light lights up). If not replace the switch.

Remove the two screws securing the switch and remove. Install the new switch and secure. This is probably a dealer only part. You could try a junk yard. Keep in touch.

[Stevo2]

Make sure that both low beams are not burned out.

[Thorax68]

Proplem solved. There was a short. which burn out the low beams light.

[RIP]

Great. Thanks for letting us know.